Texas Voices: It takes a village: forging relationships to achieve literacy

In the field of Education, stakeholders will often cite the African proverb that “it takes a village to raise a child.” To show that child love, provide them with a sense of belonging and security, and - of course - build within them a wealth of knowledge requires the investment of many as opposed to one. One individual cannot achieve this feat alone. We all know this, and yet we somehow; ironically, hold the perception that the literacy skills of a child is something that can only be developed in the isolative guidance of a common select few: the literacy educator and the custodial guardians of said child. 

Out of total transparency, I once held this belief as a teacher and even as an instructional coach at the secondary and elementary levels. And I carried the weight of that responsibility on my shoulders like a badge of honor, when in reality it was a clear indicator of not knowing how to obtain support in sharing the weight. That would all come to a mindset-altering change in August of 2022 when the Chief of Schools of my district, Dr. Dawn DuBose, asked if I would be interested in serving as the district representative for Stafford Municipal School District’s participation in a competitive literacy program called Read to the Final Four.